Automated meter reading power line communication system and method

ABSTRACT

An automated meter reading power line communications system is provided, which may include measuring the utility usage of a first customer premises to provide first utility usage data, storing the first utility usage data in memory of a first device, wirelessly transmitting the first utility usage data from the first device, receiving the wirelessly transmitted first utility usage data at a second device coupled to a medium voltage power line, and transmitting the first utility usage data over the medium voltage power line.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to all ofthe following: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/075,332 (AttorneyDocket No. CRNT-0068), filed Feb. 14, 2002, which claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/268,519 and 60/268,578,(both filed Feb. 14, 2001); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/134,377(Attorney Docket No. CRNT-0251-US) filed May 23, 2005, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/835,532, (AttorneyDocket No. CRNT-0014) now U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,680, filed Apr. 16, 2001,which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/197,615 filed Apr. 14, 2000, all of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to data communications over apower distribution system and more particularly, to a power linecommunications system for wirelessly communicating utility meter dataand other data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Well-established power distribution systems exist throughout most of theUnited States, and other countries, which provide power to customers viapower lines. With some modification, the infrastructure of the existingpower distribution systems can be used to provide data communication inaddition to power delivery, thereby forming a power line communicationsystem (PLCS). In other words, existing power lines that already havebeen run to many homes and offices, can be used to carry data signals toand from the homes and offices. These data signals are communicated onand off the power lines at various points in the power linecommunication system, such as, for example, near homes, offices;Internet service providers, and the like.

There are many challenges to overcome in order to use power lines fordata communication. Power lines are not designed to provide high speeddata communications and can be very susceptible to interference.Additionally, federal regulations limit the amount of radiated energy ofa power line communication system, which therefore limits the strengthof the data signal that can be injected onto power lines (especiallyoverhead power lines). Consequently, due to the attenuation of powerlines, communications signals typically will travel only a relativelyshort distance on power lines. In addition, the distance may vary fromlocation to location.

In the past, utilities typically have sent personnel to manually readand record the meter data, which can be expensive. Automated meterreading has been investigated as a means for reducing the cost ofreading meters. However, until now, there has been no economicallyfeasible means of communicating the data to the utility. This fact,along with the cost of replacing old meters in a large geographicalarea, have hindered wide scale adoption of automated meter reading.

Thus, there is a need for a power line communications system and methodthat facilitates automated power meter reading and reliablecommunications of data signals that can be dynamically configured andreconfigured by a network management system. These and other advantagesmay be provided by various embodiments of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an automated meter reading power linecommunications system and method of use. In one embodiment, the methodmay include measuring the utility usage of a first customer premises toprovide first utility usage data, storing the first utility usage datain memory of a first device, wirelessly transmitting the first utilityusage data from the first device, receiving the wirelessly transmittedfirst utility usage data at a second device coupled to a medium voltagepower line, and transmitting the first utility usage data over themedium voltage power line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described in the detailed description thatfollows, by reference to the noted drawings by way of non-limitingillustrative embodiments of the invention, in which like referencenumerals represent similar parts throughout the drawings. As should beunderstood, however, the invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary power distribution system with whichthe present invention may be employed;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a portion of a power line communications system,with which an embodiment of the present invention may be used.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example embodiment of a communication moduleaccording to an example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a bypass device, in accordance with anexample embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a bypass device, in accordance with anexample embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular networks,communication systems, computers, terminals, devices, components,techniques, PLCS, data and network protocols, software products andsystems, operating systems, development interfaces, hardware, etc. inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.

However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from thesespecific details. Detailed descriptions of well-known networks,communication systems, computers, PLCS, terminals, devices, components,techniques, data and network protocols, software products and systems,operating systems, development interfaces, and hardware are omitted soas not to obscure the description of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, power distribution systems typically includecomponents for power generation, power transmission, and power delivery.A transmission substation typically is used to increase the voltage fromthe power generation source to high voltage (HV) levels for longdistance transmission on HV transmission lines to a substation. Typicalvoltages found on HV transmission lines range from 69 kilovolts (kV) toin excess of 800 kV.

In addition to HV transmission lines, power distribution systems includeMV power lines and LV power lines. As discussed, MV typically rangesfrom about 1000 V to about 100 kV and LV typically ranges from about 100V to about 800 V. Transformers are used to convert between therespective voltage portions, e.g., between the HV section and the MVsection and between the MV section and the LV section. Transformers havea primary side for connection to a first voltage (e.g., the MV section)and a secondary side for outputting another (usually lower) voltage(e.g., the LV section). Such transformers are often referred to asdistribution transformers or a step down transformers, because they“step down” the voltage to some lower voltage. Transformers, therefore,provide voltage conversion for the power distribution system. Thus,power is carried from substation transformer to a distributiontransformer over one or more MV power lines. Power is carried from thedistribution transformer to the customer premises via one or more LVpower lines.

In addition, a distribution transformer may function to distribute one,two, three, or more phase voltages to the customer premises, dependingupon the demands of the user. In the United States, for example, theselocal distribution transformers typically feed anywhere from one to tenhomes, depending upon the concentration of the customer premises in aparticular area. Distribution transformers may be pole-top transformerslocated on a utility pole, pad-mounted transformers located on theground, or transformers located under ground level.

One example of a portion of a conventional PLCS is shown in FIG. 2. Inthis example, two bypass devices (BD) 100 a and 100 b are used tocommunicate data signals around the distribution transformers that wouldotherwise filter such data signals, preventing them from passing throughthe transformer or significantly degrading them. Thus, the BD 100 is thegateway between the LV power line subnet (i.e., the LV power lineconnected to the distribution transformer and the devices that arecommunicatively coupled to the LV power lines) and the MV power line andcommunicates signals to and from user devices at the customer premises(CP) via the low voltage subnet 61.

In this example embodiment, the BD 100 provides communication servicesfor the user devices, which may include security management, routing ofInternet Protocol (IP) packets, filtering data, access control, servicelevel monitoring, signal processing and modulation/demodulation ofsignals transmitted over the power lines.

This example portion of a PLCS also includes a backhaul point 10. Thebackhaul point 10 is an interface and gateway between a portion of aPLCS (e.g., an MV run) and a traditional non-power linetelecommunications network. One or more backhaul points (BP) 10 may becommunicatively coupled to an aggregation point (AP) 20 that in manyembodiments may be at (e.g., co-located with), or connected to, thepoint of presence to the Internet. The BP 10 may be connected to the AP20 using any available mechanism, including fiber optic conductors,T-carrier, Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), or wireless techniqueswell known to those skilled in the art. Thus, the BP 10 may include atransceiver suited for communicating through the communication mediumthat comprises the backhaul link.

The PLCS also may include a power line server (PLS) that is a computersystem with memory for storing a database of information about the PLCSand includes a network element manager (NEM) that monitors and controlsthe PLCS. The PLS allows network operations personnel to provision usersand network equipment, manage customer data, and monitor system status,performance and usage. The PLS may reside at a remote network operationscenter (NOC), and/or at a PLCS Point of Presence (POP), to oversee agroup of communication devices via the Internet. The PLS may provide anInternet identity to the network devices by assigning the devices (e.g.,user devices, BDs 100, (e.g., the LV modems and MV modems of BDs), BPs10, and AP 20) IP addresses and storing the IP addresses and otherdevice identifying information (e.g., the device's location, address,serial number, etc.) in its memory. In addition, the PLS may approve ordeny user devices authorization requests, command status reports,statistics and measurements from the BDs, and BPs, and provideapplication software upgrades to the communication devices (e.g., BDs,BPs, and other devices). The PLS, by collecting electric powerdistribution information and interfacing with utilities' back-endcomputer systems may provide enhanced power distribution services suchas automated meter reading, outage detection, restoration detection,load balancing, distribution automation, Volt/Volt-Amp Reactance(Volt/VAr) management, and other similar functions. The PLS also may beconnected to one or more APs and/or core routers directly or through theInternet and therefore can communicate with any of the BDs, userdevices, and BPs through the respective AP and/or core router.

The PLCS may further include indoor low voltage repeaters and outdoorlow voltage repeaters. Indoor low voltage repeaters may be plugged intoa wall socket inside the customer premises. Outdoor low voltagerepeaters may be coupled to the external low voltage power lineconductors extending from the transformer and therefore, be locatedbetween the customer premises and the BD 100. Both the indoor lowvoltage repeaters and outdoor low voltage repeaters repeat data on thelow voltage power line to extend the communication range of the BD 100and power line modem.

At the user end of the PLCS of this example system, data flow originatesfrom a user device, which provides the data to a power line modem (PLM)50, which is well-known in the art.

The user device connected to the PLM 50 may be any device capable ofsupplying data for transmission (or for receiving such data) including,but not limited to a computer, a telephone, a telephone answeringmachine, a fax, a digital cable box (e.g., for processing digital audioand video, which may then be supplied to a conventional television andfor transmitting requests for video programming), a video game, astereo, a videophone, a television (which may be a digital television),a video recording device (which may be a digital video recorder), a homenetwork device, a utility meter, or other device. The PLM 50 transmitsthe data received from the user device through the LV power lines to aBD 100 and provides data received from the LV power line to the userdevice. The PLM 50 may also be integrated with the user device, whichmay be a computer. In addition, the functions of the PLM may beintegrated into a smart utility meter such as a gas meter, electricmeter, water meter, or other utility meter to thereby provide automatedmeter reading (AMR).

The BD 100 typically receives data from the user devices coupled to itsLV power line subnet and then transmits the data to (and receives thedata from) the backhaul point 10, which, in turn, transmits the data to(and receives the data from) the AP 20. The AP 20 then transmits thedata to (and receives the data from) the appropriate destination(perhaps via a core router), which may be a network destination (such asan Internet address) in which case the packets are transmitted to, andpass through, numerous routers (herein routers are meant to include bothnetwork routers and switches) in order to arrive at the desireddestination. A detailed description of an example PLCS, its componentsand features is provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/091,677filed Mar. 28, 2005, Attorney Docket No. CRNT-0239, entitled “Power LineRepeater System and Method,” which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety. A detailed description of another example PLCS, itscomponents and features is provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/973,493 filed Oct. 26, 2004, Attorney Docket No. CRNT-0229, entitled“Power Line Communications System and Method of Operating the Same,”which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The presentinvention may be used with networks as described in the above patentapplications or others. Thus, the invention is not limited to aparticular PLCS, PLCS architecture, or topology.

Referring to FIG. 2, this example PLCS includes a BD 100 at eachdistribution transformers 60 a and 60 b to service the user devicescoupled to the respective LV power line subnet. Thus, BD 100 a iscoupled to backhaul point 10 via the MV power line and also coupled toLV power line subnet 61 a to provide communications to the user devicescoupled thereto. In this example, LV power line subnet 61 a includes theLV power lines coupled to distribution transformer 60 a, which may beconnected to between one and ten (and sometimes more) customer premisesCP. One or more of the customer premises may include one or more powerline modems 50 and associated user devices that are connected to theinternal power lines such as, for example, at CP 119 a and 119 b.

Similarly, BD 100 b is coupled to backhaul point 10 via the MV powerline and also coupled to LV power line subnet 61 b to providecommunications to the user devices coupled thereto. In this example, LVpower line subnet 61 b includes the LV power lines coupled todistribution transformer 60 b. One or more of the customer premises 119receiving power via LV power line subnet 61 b may include one or morePLMs 50 and the associated user devices connected thereto. Thus, asshown in FIG. 2, the bypass device 100 typically communicates via theexternal low voltage power lines 62, the power meter 300, and internalpower lines to the user device. In some instances, however, the powermeter, the length of the low voltage power lines (both internal andexternal) may attenuate the data signals to the point wherecommunications are prevented or degraded and/or are no longer reliable.Additionally, sometimes the LV power line link may be fully utilized foruser data communications.

Thus, the prevent invention may provide an additional communication linkto the customer premises (or the vicinity thereof) for communicationswith the utility meter(s) and/or user devices. For example, if the powerline communication channel becomes inoperative, the wireless link may beused to provide communications.

FIG. 3 depicts an example communication module (CM) 500 that facilitateswireless reception and transmission of data from an automated powermeter 300. This example embodiment includes a wireless modem 2022 whichprovides communications with a bypass device 100, or other wirelessenabled devices. The modem 2022 may be compatible with an IEEE 802.11 orother protocol and may communicate any suitable frequency band such as alicensed band (e.g., 6 GHz, 11 GHz, 18 GHz, 23 GHz, 24 GHz, 28 GHz, or38 GHz band) or unlicensed frequency band (e.g., 900 MHz (e.g., 902-928MHz), 2.4 GHz, 5.8 Ghz, 24 GHz, 38 GHz, or 60 GHz (i.e., 57-64 GHz)).

The wireless modem 2022 may be communicatively coupled to the processor2040. The processor 2040 may be in communication with memory 2045, whichmay include volatile and non-volatile random access memory (RAM) whichmay be used to store power usage data collected from the meter 300 andprogram code to be executed by the processor 2040. New program code,requests for data, and other commands may be received via the wirelessmodem 2022 from a network element such as a bypass device, of the PLCS.The new code, requests for data, and/or other commands may then bestored in flash memory for execution by the processor 2040.

The processor 2040 may also be in communication with the meter via apower meter interface 2042 in order to receive data from the meteritself and to perform other AMR processes. This example embodiment alsoincludes a power line modem 2020 to communicate with the BD 100 or powerline modems in the customer premises. Other embodiments may not need tohave a power line modem 2020. The module 500 may also include a lineconditioner and power supply 2055 coupled to the processor 2040,wireless modem 2022, power line modem 2020 and other components toprovide power thereto.

The meter data may be transmitted by the CM 500 by wireless modem 2022to a power line communications system network element, which may be, forexample, a transformer bypass device 100. The network element may thentransmit the meter data (e.g., via the MV power line) to an upstreamdevice (e.g., a backhaul device 10), which further transmits the meterdata upstream for eventual reception by utility provider. Duringoperation, the module 500 may periodically transmit utility usage dataand subsequently await an acknowledgment from the receiving device(e.g., a BD 100) that the data has been received. If no acknowledgementis received after a predetermined time period (e.g., fifteen seconds),the module may re-transmit the data. If after five attempts noacknowledgement is received the process may begin again after a secondpredetermined time period (e.g., fifteen minutes). After a predeterminednumber of processes have been completed (e.g., 5), the module mayattempt to transmit an alert over the power lines (if a power line modemis included in the device).

Also, the module may receive user data, request for utility usage data,new software, configuration commands, or other data wirelessly or, if,the module 500 includes a power line modem 2020, via the LV power linemodems. In one embodiment, data transmitted by the BD 100 and the CM 500is differentially transmitted over the two LV power line energizedconductors. In another embodiment, the data signals are inductivelycoupled onto one or both energized conductors. User data received (fromthe BD 100 or originating from user device in a customer premises) maybe re-transmitted wirelessly or over the LV power lines (if a power linemodem is included in the module 500). Thus, data may be receivedwirelessly from a BD 100, a user device, or another utility meter and bere-transmitted wirelessly or over the power lines and data may bereceived via the LV power lines from a BD 100, a user device, or anotherutility meter and be re-transmitted wirelessly or over the power lines.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the bypass device (BD) 100 whichincludes a MV power line interface (MVI) 200, a controller 300, awireless modem 2044, and a LV power line interface (LVI) 400. Both theMVI, wireless modem and the LVI may include an adaptive and/or dynamictransmitter to transmit signals at various power levels as determined bythe controller 300, which may change the output power in response to acommand from the PLS or automatically due to changes communications.Additionally, in one embodiment the wireless modem 2044 may transmitand/or receive in a plurality of frequency bands in response to commandsor signals from the controller 300. The plurality of frequency bands maycomprise or consist of multiple sub-bands in any of the frequency bandsidentified above such as, for example, 903-904 MHz, 904-905 MHz, and905-906 MHz. The BD 100 is controlled by a processor executingexecutable program code and associated peripheral circuitry, which formpart of the controller 300. The controller 300 includes memory thatstores, among other things, routing information and program code, whichcontrols the operation of the processor.

Referring to FIG. 5, the LVI 400 may include a LV power line coupler410, a LV signal conditioner 420, and a LV modem 450. The router 310forms part of the controller 300 and performs routing functions. Router310 may perform routing functions using layer 3 data (e.g., IPaddresses), layer 2 data (e.g., MAC addresses), or a combination oflayer 2 and layer 3 data (e.g., a combination of MAC and IP addresses).The MVI 200 may include a MV modem 280, a MV signal conditioner 260, anda power line coupler 210. In addition to routing, the controller 300 mayperform other functions including controlling the operation of the LVI400 and MVI 200 functional components and responding to PLS commands andrequests. A more complete description of the hardware, firmware, of theBD 100 and its functionality is described below.

This embodiment of the BD 100 provides bi-directional communication of afirst communications path from the LV power line to the MV power lineand a second path from the MV power line to the LV power line. Thus, BD100 can receive and transmit data to one or more user devices in one ormore customer premises via the LVI 400, which may be connected to aplurality customer premises via a plurality of LV power lines. The BD100 may also receive and transmit data with other elements, such as oneor more BPs 10 and other BDs 100, via the MVI 300. In addition, the BD100 may wirelessly receive and transmit data through antenna 33 viawireless modem 2044 with meters on the same LV subnet or with meters ona different nearby LV subnet.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example BD 100. The BD 100 may be coupled to theLV power line via the LV coupler 410, which is coupled to the LV signalconditioner 420. Any type of coupler may be used including, but notlimited to an inductive coupler, a capacitive coupler, a conductivecoupler, or a combination thereof. The LV signal conditioner 420 mayinclude an amplifier and filter and a transmit/receive switch, fortransmission and reception of data.

LV Modem

The LV modem 450 receives and transmits data over the LV power linesubnet and may include additional functional submodules such as anAnalog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), amemory, source encoder/decoder, error encoder/decoder, channelencoder/decoder, MAC (Media Access Control) controller, encryptionmodule, and decryption module. These functional submodules may beomitted in some embodiments, may be integrated into a modem integratedcircuit (chip or chip set), or may be peripheral to a modem chip. In thepresent example embodiment, the LV modem 450 is formed, at least inpart, by part number INT51X1, which is an integrated power linetransceiver circuit incorporating most of the above-identifiedsubmodules, and which is manufactured by Intellon, Inc. of Ocala, Fla.

The LV modem 450 may provide decryption, source decoding, errordecoding, channel decoding, and media access control (MAC) all of whichare known in the art and, therefore, not explained in detail here. Withrespect to MAC, however, the LV modem 450 may examine information in thepacket to determine whether the packet should be ignored or passed tothe router 310. For example, the modem 450 may compare the destinationMAC address of the incoming packet with the MAC address of the LV modem450 (which is stored in the memory of the LV modem 450). If there is amatch, the LV modem 450 may remove the MAC header of the packet and passthe packet to the router 310. If there is not a match, the packet may beignored.

Router

The router 310 may perform prioritization, filtering, packet routing,access control, and encryption. The router 310 of this exampleembodiment of the present invention uses a table (e.g., a routing table)and programmed routing rules stored in memory to determine the nextdestination of a data packet. The table is a collection of informationand may include information relating to which interface (e.g., LVI 400or MVI 200) leads to particular groups of addresses (such as theaddresses of the user devices (including control devices) connected tothe customer LV power lines and BDs 100), priorities for connections tobe used, and rules for handling both routine and special cases oftraffic (such as voice packets and/or control packets).

The router 310 will detect routing information, such as the destinationaddress (e.g., the destination IP address) and/or other packetinformation (such as information identifying the packet as voice data),and match that routing information with rules (e.g., address rules) inthe table. The rules may indicate that packets in a particular group ofaddresses should be transmitted in a specific direction such as throughthe LV power line (e.g., if the packet was received from the MV powerline or receiver and the destination address corresponds to a userdevice (e.g., control device) connected to the LV power line), repeatedon the MV line (e.g., if the BD 100 is acting as a repeater), or beignored (e.g., if the address does not correspond to a user deviceconnected to the LV power line or to the BD 100 itself).

As an example, the table may include information such as the IPaddresses (and potentially the MAC addresses) of the user devices on theBD's 100 LV subnet, the utility meters with which it can communicate,the MAC addresses of the PLMs 50 on the BD's 100 LV subnet, theaddresses of the control devices on the LV subnet, the MV subnet mask(which may include the MAC address and/or IP address of the BD's BP 10),the IP (and/or MAC) addresses of BDs 100 (e.g., for which the device maybe repeating), and the IP address of the LV modem 450 and MV modem 280.Based on the-destination address of the packet (e.g., an IP address),the router may pass the packet to the MV modem 280 for transmission onthe MV power line. Alternately, if the destination address of the packetmatches the address of the BD 100, the BD 100 may process the packet asa command such as request for a pay-per-view programming.

The router 310 may also prioritize transmission of packets. For example,data packets determined to be voice packets may be given higher priorityfor transmission through the BD 100 than data packets so as to reducedelays and improve the voice connection experienced by the user. Routingand/or prioritization may be based on IP addresses, MAC addresses,subscription level, type of data (e.g., power usage data or otherenhanced power distribution system data may be given lower priority thanvoice or computer data), or a combination thereof (e.g., the MAC addressof the PLM or IP address of the user device). Additionally, data to orfrom the one or more utility meters may be given a lower priority thandata from user devices (which may include web page data, IP televisiondata, voice data, etc.)

MV Modem

The MV modem 280, which is coupled to the router 310, receives andtransmits data over the MV power line. Similar to the LV modem 450, theMV modem 280 receives data from the router 310 and includes a modulatorand demodulator. In addition, the MV modem 280 also may include one ormore additional functional submodules such as an ADC, DAC, memory,source encoder/decoder, error encoder/decoder, channel encoder/decoder,MAC controller, encryption module, frequency conditioning module (toupband and/or downband signals) and decryption module. These functionalsubmodules may be omitted in some embodiments, may be integrated into amodem integrated circuit (chip or chip set), or may be peripheral to amodem chip. In the present example embodiment, the MV modem 280 isformed, at least in part, by part number INT51X1, which is an integratedpower line transceiver circuit incorporating most of the identifiedsubmodules and which is manufactured by Intellon, Inc. of Ocala, Fla.

The incoming data from the router 310 (or controller) is supplied to theMV modem 280, which provides MAC processing, for example, by adding aMAC header that includes the MAC address of the MV modem 280 as thesource address and the MAC address of the BP 10 (and in particular, theMAC address of the MV modem of the BP) or BD 100 as the destination MACaddress. In addition, the MV modem 280 also provides channel encoding,source encoding, error encoding, and encryption. The data is thenmodulated and provided to the DAC to convert the digital data to ananalog signal.

The term “router” is sometimes used to refer to a device that routesdata at the IP layer (e.g., using IP addresses). The term “switch” or“bridge” are sometimes used to refer to a device that routes at the MAClayer (e.g., using MAC addresses). Herein, however, the terms “router”,“routing”, “routing functions” and the like are meant to include bothrouting at the IP layer and MAC layer. Consequently, the router 310 ofthe present invention may use MAC addresses instead of, or in additionto, IP addresses to perform routing functions.

Signal Conditioners

The signal conditioners 420 and 260 may provide filtering (anti-alias,noise, and/or band pass filtering) and amplification. In addition, thesignal conditioners may provide frequency translation.

MV Power Coupler Line

The coupling device 210 may be inductive, capacitive, conductive, acombination thereof, or any suitable device for communicating datasignals to and/or from the MV power line.

Controller

As discussed, the controller 300 includes the hardware and software formanaging communications and control of the BD 100. In this embodiment,the controller 300 includes an IDT 32334 RISC microprocessor for runningthe embedded application software and also includes flash memory forstoring the boot code, device data and configuration information (serialnumber, MAC addresses, subnet mask, and other information), theapplication software, routing table, and the statistical and measureddata. This memory includes the program code stored therein for operatingthe processor to perform the routing functions described herein.

This embodiment of the controller also includes random access memory(RAM) for running the application software and temporary storage of dataand data packets. This embodiment of the controller 300 also includes anAnalog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for taking various measurements, whichmay include measuring the temperature inside the BD 100 (through atemperature sensor such as a varistor or thermistor), for taking powerquality measurements, detecting power outages, measuring the outputs offeedback devices, and others. The embodiment also includes a “watchdog”timer for resetting the device should a hardware glitch or softwareproblem prevent proper operation to continue.

This embodiment of the controller 300 also includes an Ethernet adapter,an optional on-board MAC and physical (PHY) layer Ethernet chipset thatcan be used for converting peripheral component interconnect (PCI) toEthernet signals for communicating with the backhaul side of the BD 100.The RJ45 connector provides a port for the wireless modem 2044 (whichmay be a 802.11 compliant transceiver) for communicating wirelessly tothe meter, BP 10 or BD 100, which, of course, would include a similartransceiver.

In addition to storing a real-time operating system, the memory ofcontroller 300 of the BD 100 also includes various program code sectionssuch as a receiver control software, software upgrade handler, softwareupgrade processing software, the PLS command processing software (whichreceives commands from the PLS, and processes the commands, and mayreturn a status back to the PLS), the ADC control software, the powerquality monitoring software, the error detection and alarm processingsoftware, the data filtering software, the traffic monitoring software,the network element provisioning software, and a dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) Server for auto-provisioning user devices(e.g., user computers) and associated PLMs.

During operation, the BD 100 may periodically transmit a request for, oranticipate reception of, utility usage data and, upon reception transmitan acknowledgment to the CM 500. The request may be send over the LVpower lines or wirelessly depending on the implementation. If no data isreceived from the communication module after a predetermined time period(e.g., one hour or one day) or in response to a transmitted request, theBD may re-transmit the request. If no data is received again, the BD maytransmit an alert over the MV power line to the PLS, which may transmita notification to the utility to dispatch a repair crew to replace themeter and/or communication module. The BD may provide communications toa plurality of utility meters (e.g., power, water, and/or gas) and userdevices. Thus, the CM associated with each utility meter may have adifferent address and be separately addressable by the BD 100. Once theutility usage data is received, the BD may store the data andsubsequently transmit the data over the MV power line to the power lineserver and/or a destination designated by the utility (which may requirethat the BD or BP add a destination address to the data packet carryingthe utility usage data).

In alternate embodiment, the BD 100 does not include a LVI, but mayconnect to the LV power lines to receive power therefrom, but does notcommunicate over the LV power lines. Thus, the BD 100 may include an MVI200 (including an MV modem) and a wireless modem 2044 for communicatingwith utility meters and/or user devices. For example, some bypassdevices 100 may not have any subscribers on their LV subnet.Consequently, such an embodiment of the present invention may notinclude a low voltage port on the device 100 because the BD 100 cancommunicate meter data wirelessly. Additionally, bypass devices with thewireless modem may be configured to communicate with numerous metersincluding both meters connected to the BD's LV subnet and to meters thatare connected to other LV subnets (and with which there is no conductivepath for data communications). Likewise, some utility meters (e.g., gasor water) may include a battery powered communication module and not beconnected to the power lines. For such meters there often is noconductive path for data over power lines. Finally, the proliferation ofwireless local area networks and cordless telephones (which either mayoften use the 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz) in a given area may make one or moreof the 900 MHz frequency sub-bands attractive for implementing thepresent invention. Additionally, the 900MHz may provide betterpenetration to or into customer premises and also allow for economicproduction of the invention.

It is to be understood that the foregoing illustrative embodiments havebeen provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way tobe construed as limiting of the invention. Words used herein are wordsof description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Inaddition, the advantages and objectives described herein may not berealized by each and every embodiment practicing the present invention.Further, although the invention has been described herein with referenceto particular structure, materials and/or embodiments, the invention isnot intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein. Rather,the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methodsand uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Thoseskilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of thisspecification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes maybe made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A method of providing communicating utility usage data, comprising:receiving first utility usage data; storing the first utility usage datain memory of a first device; wirelessly transmitting the first utilityusage data from the first device; receiving the wirelessly transmittedfirst utility usage data at a second device coupled to a medium voltagepower line; and transmitting the first utility usage data over themedium voltage power line.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstutility usage data comprises power usage data.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the first utility usage data comprises water usage data.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first utility usage data comprises gasusage data.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device isfurther coupled to a low voltage power line.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the second device is configured to provide communicationservices over the low voltage power line.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the second device includes a router and is configured to routedata received wirelessly and data received via the low voltage powerlines.
 8. The method of claim 6, where the second device is configuredto assign a priority to at least some data received via the low voltagepower lines that is higher than data received wirelessly.
 9. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: measuring the utility usage of a secondcustomer premises to provide second utility usage data; storing thesecond utility usage data in memory of a third device; wirelesslytransmitting the second utility usage data from third first device;receiving the wirelessly transmitted second utility usage data at thesecond device; and transmitting the second utility usage data over themedium voltage power line.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the firstutility usage data and second utility usage data are different types ofutility usage data.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first deviceand second device are coupled to different LV power lines.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, where in the first utility usage data is wirelesslyreceived in frequency range of about 902-928 megahertz.
 13. The methodof claim 1, further comprising measuring the utility usage of a firstcustomer premises to provide the first utility usage data;
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first device forms part of a utilitymeter.
 15. A method of using a device coupled to a medium voltage powerline, comprising: wirelessly receiving first utility usage data from afirst device; wirelessly receiving second utility usage data from asecond device; receiving user data; and transmitting the first utilityusage data, the second utility usage data, and the user data over themedium voltage power line.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the firstutility usage data comprises power usage data.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein the second utility usage data comprises gas usage data. 18.The method of claim 15, wherein the first utility usage data compriseswater usage data.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first utilityusage data comprises gas usage data.
 20. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising according a priority to the user data that is higher thanthat of the first utility usage data.
 21. The method of claim 15,wherein the first utility usage data and the second utility usage dataare different types of utility data.
 22. The method of claim 15, wherein the first utility usage data is wirelessly received in frequencyrange of about 902-928 megahertz.
 23. The method of claim 15, whereinthe user data is received via a low voltage power line.
 24. The methodof claim 15, wherein the user data is received wirelessly.
 25. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the user data includes voice data.
 26. Amethod of using a device coupled to a medium voltage power line,comprising: wirelessly receiving first utility usage data from a firstdevice; wirelessly receiving second utility usage data from a seconddevice; receiving first user data from a first user; receiving seconduser data from a second user; and transmitting the first utility usagedata, the second utility usage data, the first user data, and the seconduser data over the medium voltage power line.
 27. The method of claim26, wherein the first utility usage data comprises power usage data. 28.The method of claim 27, wherein the second utility usage data comprisesgas usage data.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first utilityusage data comprises water usage data.
 30. The method of claim 26,wherein the first utility usage data comprises gas usage data.
 31. Themethod of claim 26, further comprising according a priority to the firstuser data and the second user data that is higher than that of the firstutility usage data and the second utility usage data.
 32. The method ofclaim 26, wherein the first utility usage data and the second utilityusage data are different types of utility data.
 33. The method of claim26, wherein the first user data is received via a low voltage powerline.
 34. The method of claim 26, wherein the first user data isreceived wirelessly.
 35. The method of claim 26, wherein the first userdata includes voice data.
 36. The method of claim 26, wherein the firstuser and the second user are located in different customer premises.